Method of shelling mollusks



Dec. 21, 1937.

J. H. DOXSEE. JR.

METHOD OF SHELLING MOLLUSKS Filed May 20 t INVENT OR 33 H Doflsec, 31-- EYS MB Q

I ATTO Patented Dec. 21,1937

UNITED STATES was PATENT OFFICE Application May 2-0, 1937, Serial No. 143,723

' Claims.

This invention relates to a method by means of which the meats of clams, oysters, mussels, andsimilar shell food are separated from the shells.

More specifically, an object of this invention is to provide a methodby means of which after steaming the meaty portions of mollusks such as clams may be easily separated from the shells and the meaty portions delivered to one point and the shells discharged at another.

Other more detailed objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description. This invention resides substantially in'the steps and series of steps'in accordance with this dis closure.

This application is related to our application Serial No. 690,050, filed September 19, 1933, now Patent No. 2,008,820, dated July 23, 1935.

In the drawing thereis illustrated one form of machine by means of which the method of this invention can be carried out in a practical commercial manner.

As is well known in this art, when shell food, such as clams, are subjected to a steaming operation for a sufficient period of time and at proper temperatures the shells open and the meaty portions in most cases become detached from the shells. It is common practice to place large quantities of clams, for example, in a steam box and subject them to a steaming operation to open the shells and detach the meat therefrom. The result is a mixture of meat and shells which heretofore have been separated from each other by hand picking. The purpose of this invention is to provide a novel method by means of which the hand separation of the meats and shells can be eliminated, thereby greatly reducing'the cost and time of preparing such products for canning or use.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a framework comprising the standards land the side frame members 2 upon which are journaled from underneath by means of the shafts 3 and 5 a series of cylindrical guide rollers 4 and 6, respectively, upon which are mounted the endless belts I and 8. Positioned adjacent the right handend of belt 1 is the steam box 9, a portion of which is shown, having a discharge door, not shown, and the side guide chutes l0, so that when the door is open the steamed mollusks are discharged from the steam box onto the belt I which moves slowly towards the left. At this point it is to be noted that the belt 8 likewise moves towards the left at the same speed as belt I and is preferably on the same level therewith.

Extending across the top of belt 1 and positioned about an inch above the surface thereof is a barrier I l which is supported by means of the arms l3 from a transverse shaft l2. One of the arms I3 is provided with a bracket M, in the end of which is an adjustable winged screw 15 which engages the top of the adjacent member 2. By adjusting the screw iii the separation of the lower edge of the barrier l I from the surface .of the belt may be adjusted as desired. As is shown in the drawing, the barrier ll extends across the belt at an angle other than a right angle, and in the arrangement shown the farther end is rearward of the nearer end in the direction of belt travel. Adjacent the farther end of the barrier H is an opening in the frame member 2 to provide communication between the belts.

Mounted between the frame members 2 on opposite sides of the belt 8 by means of the shafts i8 and the arms ll are a series of barriers l8 which, as distinguished from the barrier ll, do not extend for the full width of the belt. The first barrier Hi to the right has its clear end forward of its farther end in the direction of movement of the belt 8. The position of the next barrier II is reversed while the position of the final barrier I6 is similar to that of the first. Each of the barriers l6 rests at its lower surface on top of the belt 8.

At I9 is a barrier similar to the barrier II in that it is adjustably supported for substantially vertical movement from a shaft 2| by means of the arms 20 and is adjustable by a bracket and screw 22. The barrier I9 is preferably positioned so as to be spaced from the surface of belt 8 by about the distance of an inch and is inclined so that its distant end is rearward of its nearer end in the direction of movement of the belt 8 and there is positioned adjacent its farther end a chute 30. Just in back of barrier I9 is a barrier 23 supported by an arm 24 on a shaft 25, which barrier rests down on the surface of belt 8. The barrier 23 is arranged so that its nearer end is rearward of its farther end.

With this mechanism, when the mixture of shells and meats, most of which are separated from the shells while some are still attached, is discharged onto the belt I, the belt carries them towards the left until they reach the barrier H. The soft pliant meats M are carried by the belt under the barrier ll while the shells S, to some of which the meats are still attached, are tumbled and shuffled and gradually worked through the opening in the middle frame member 2 onto the belt 8. This results because of the inclination of the barrier H as previously described. The shells are then traversed back and forth, shuffled and tumbled by the barriers Hi to the extent where substantially all of the attached meats are broken loose from the shells. As the mixture reaches the barrier 19 the loosened meats pass under it while the shells gradually work over as they are shuttled and tumbled about until they are discharged from the side of the belt 3 onto chute 30. The meats which engage the barrier 23 are gradually worked over towards and through the opening in the middle barrier onto the belt l, where they join the meats which come directly under the barrier H. The separated meats move off the end of belt 1 into a suitable receptacle or machine for further processing.

Those who understand this art will appreciate that the method herein disclosed is subject to some variations without departure from the scope thereof. We prefer, therefore, to be limited to the claims granted us.

What We claim is:

1. The method of separating mollusks from their shells, which comprises steaming the mollusks to open the shells, moving them along a defined path into engagement with a barrier, and diverting the shells onto another path of travel while the meats continue along the original path of travel, whereby the shells are delivered to one point and the meats to another.

2. The method of separating mollusks from their shells, which comprises steaming the mollusks to open the shells, moving them along a defined path into engagement with a barrier, diverting the shells onto another path of travel while the meats continue along the original path of travel, shufiling and tumbling the shells as they move along the second path of travel to complete separation of any meats attached thereto, and diverting the shells to a discharge point separated from the meats.

3. The method of separating mollusks from their shells, which comprises steaming the mollusks to open the shells, moving them along a defined path into engagement with a barrier, di-

verting the shells onto another path of travel while the meats continue along the original path of travel, shuffling and tumbling the shells as they move along the second path of travel to complete separation of any meats attached thereto, diverting the shells to a discharge point while the meats continue along the second path of travel, and returning the meats to the first path of travel.

4. The method of separating the meats from steamed mollusks, which comprises moving a batch thereof along a defined path of travel, tumbling and shufiiing the batch to separate such meats as are attached to the shells, and diverting the shells to a discharge point while continuing the meats along said defined path of travel to another discharge point.

5. The method of separating the meats from steamed mollusks, which comprises moving a batch of shells and meats, with some meats attached, along a defined path of travel, diverting the shells and attached meats to a second path of travel while continuing the detached meats along the first path of travel, shuffling and tumbling the shells to cause a separation of the attached meats therefrom, diverting the shells to a discharge point, and returning the meats to the first path of travel.

JAMES H. DOXSEE, J11. WILLIAM H. COOK. 

